Never-say-die Neosho: Panthers battled adversity it run to World Series

Neosho County (Kan.) Community College pitcher Chance Sinclair delivers during a game this season for the Panthers. Sinclair is one of the top pitchers for the team, posting a 9-2 record with a 2.13 ERA this season.

Ben Smith

Neosho County (Kan.) Community College pitcher Chance Sinclair delivers during a game this season for the Panthers. Sinclair is one of the top pitchers for the team, posting a 9-2 record with a 2.13 ERA this season.

Ben Smith

Matt Milner, Neosho County

Ben Smith

Matt Milner, Neosho County

Neosho County (Kan.) second baseman Matt Milner looks to steal during a game this season. Milner has two home runs this season and is batting .388.

Ben Smith

Neosho County (Kan.) second baseman Matt Milner looks to steal during a game this season. Milner has two home runs this season and is batting .388.

Most of the players on last year’s Neosho County (Kan.) Community College team are gone.

Their sophomore captain, and possibly best player, broke his hand 31 games into this season.

It seemed all was lost.

“We have very few (back from last year),” Neosho County coach Steve Murry said. “This was a team nobody expected this from. In fact, at the beginning of the year, we were left for dead. One of our best players broke his hand and was out for the year.”

Sophomore second baseman Matt Milner, who leads the team with a .388 batting average, broke his hand April 7.

The Panthers (35-25) lost seven of their next nine games.

“We couldn’t find an identity,” Murry said. “Our best player goes out and we were not home in April or May. We had to figure it out quick. At one point, it was iffy for us to make the playoffs.”

Murry juggled the lineup several times.

“We’d have one kid hit cleanup all weekend, then struggle, and we’d put him in the seven or eight hole,” Murry said. “I’ll say one thing, it’s a versatile group. There’s not one guy in there set to hit home runs or just bunt. They have all had their share of batting leadoff to cleanup to the nine hole.

“There’s a lot of good hitters, up and down the lineup. They all had their share of struggles and successes. For us, it was a different situation. They’ve all had a chance to be hero or a goat. They’ve all left their share of the bases loaded.”

Neosho County routed then-No. 1 Crowder (Mo.) College 11-0 on April 16. From there, the Panthers won eight of their final 12 regular-season games to finish sixth in Jayhawk Conference Eastern Division and squeeze into the Region XI tournament.

“We realized we could be a good club,” Murry said. “We got timely hitting. Things started to click.”

Pitching carried Neosho County in the region and Central District tournaments. Chance Sinclair, John Furlong and Jake Johnson combined to pitch six complete games in the Panthers’ seven tournament games.

Neosho County plays seven-inning games during the season and nine-inning games in the postseason.

Chance Sinclair (9-2, 2.13 ERA) threw three complete games, including one on short rest in the 7-3 district championship victory over Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College.